“If you’re just starting out in your career it is possible to get into the property market in Wellington,” Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency chief executive Chris Whelan told The Huffington Post Australia.

For those not quite ready to dip their toes into mortgage territory, the cost of renting is also considerably cheaper when compared to cities like Melbourne or Sydney.

“Rental prices in Wellington are 23 percent lower than Melbourne but the demand for them is actually quite high -- so the investment opportunities are good -- and of course, you don’t have the capital gains tax,” Whelan said.

But it’s not just the cheap housing and Lord of the Rings surroundings that make Wellington attractive. Homegrown businesses like Garage Project -- three guys brewing beer out of a garage since 2011 -- prove Wellington’s billion dollar-a-year food and beverage industry is a major part of the city’s commitment to a diverse cultural scene.

As well as hospitality, Whelan said the technology sector both in the startup space and high growth space is strong as well as its creative sector -- particularly screen and digital.